I spent some time in jail recently. That’s right. It was damp and dark, dreary and dull. And, I loved every minute of it! That’s because the time I spent was in the Cork City Gaol, a well preserved old Irish prison. Read More »
When my daughter picked us up from the airport in Dublin, speeding off onto the motorways of Ireland, my dad and I were second guessing our plans to hire a car on our own. First off if you’re not familiar with a right hand drive on the left side of the road, you may be a bit daunted but don’t ... Read More »
Although Scotland is more commonly associated with world class golf, Ireland boasts some epic courses of its own and in some quarters it is actually considered to be the home of the best links courses in the world. Of course the sheer beauty of both the Irish coastline and the tranquil surrounds of the inland countryside lend themselves to the ... Read More »
One of my favorite times to be back home in Cork – October, for the Guinness Jazz Festival. This music festival has been held annually in Cork since the late 1970’s, and you won’t be disappointed if you can get yourself into the city to enjoy some of the festivities. ‘The Jazz’ (as you might hear it referred to in ... Read More »
Bantry House is the ancestral home of the Earls of Bantry which is situated overlooking Bantry Bay in West Cork. The title lapsed in 1891 but the house is still owned and lived in by the direct descendant of the 1st Earl of Bantry, Egerton Shelswell-White and his family. Since 1946 the House and Garden has been open to the ... Read More »
Few things can produce a panic in me as getting a flat tire… in a rental car… in the middle of nowhere…in a foreign country. But sure enough, that was the predicament in which my husband and I found ourselves on our first trip to my Mother’s homeland of Ireland. Read More »
I passed Linehans handmade sweets on my way to and from St. Anne’s Shandon Tower. This little sweet shop is just around the corner from the church. I grew up living on these sweets, and yes, I still have all my teeth 🙂 but I never knew they came from just across the river, where they have been made since ... Read More »
Penal Laws were imposed by the ruling British on Irish Roman Catholics during the 1600’s and 1700’s, in a bid to force people to accept the reformed Christian faith. The laws were very restrictive and have had a long and lasting effect on the daily life of Irish Catholics. The laws included: -Restrictions on how children of Catholics were educated ... Read More »
***update*** I posted this picture before I had a chance to write up my experience at the gaol. You find that post here, along with tons of other great pictures from the gaol. Enjoy! Read More »
Shandon Tower in Cork City is without doubt one of the city's most spectacular buildings. Built in the 1700's it is still an imposing figure on the Cork City skyline today. Read More »
Got Ireland
